AL Counties: Online Land Records
Do you have a bank client who needs title work all over Alabama? Do you have trouble finding an independent abstractor who can do a…
U.S. Secret Service observes sharp increase in Real Estate Fraud
The U.S. Secret Service has advised about an increase in reports of real estate fraud concerning vacant properties. These schemes involve a criminal that identifies…
Member Highlight – Agent: Tara Leiter
Tara Leiter is the Director for the counties of Pickens, Tuscaloosa, Bibb, Perry, Dallas, Wilcox, Marengo, Sumter, Greene, and Hale. Tara helped open, and manages,…
Member Highlight – Agent: Meagan Yarbrough
Meagan is the director of the Northeast region consisting of the following counties: Limestone, Madison, Jackson, Dekalb, Cherokee, Etowah, Blount, Marshall, Cullman, and Morgan. Meagan…
Statewide home sales decrease 15% year-over-year in August
Source: Alabama Real Estate Journal / James Benedetto James Benedetto has reported that home sales in the state decreased in August 14.5% year-over-year from 6,345…
MV Realty files for bankruptcy
Source: HousingWire By Brooklee Han Right-to-list agreement firm MV Realty has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 33 states. The story was first reported by…
eRecording in Alabama
Good news! eRecording is available in Alabama. You can eRecord your documents in Alabama through multiple vendors right now. Below is a list of counties…
Helpful Hint: Baldwin County Mineral Tax
Baldwin County charges a Mineral Tax but Escambia, Mobile and Monroe Counties do not collect for these charges. The charge is $.15 an acre rounded…
Title Tip: Lauderdale County
Don’t be shy about asking the probate clerks to buzz you through the locked half-door at the front of their office. The computer search terminals…
Member Highlight – Agent: Scott Thornley
Scott Thornley is a director for the counties of Colbert, Fayette, Franklin, Lamar, Lauderdale, Lawrence, Marion, Walker, and Winston. Scott is a Partner in the…
Title Tips: Mapping Departments and Reappraisal Departments
The Mapping Departments and Reappraisal Departments often contain a wealth of information on property report cards. The information included on the cards can be helpful…
2023 Alabama Legislative Update
Act No. 2023-63 was passed (and made effective) on April 20, 2023. It authorizes the appointment of temporary probate judges (to serve with the current…
Title Tips: Searching Probate Records
1. Always search additional spellings, abbreviations and possible misspellings of names. 2. Always ask realtors and lenders for the parties’ full legal names. It is…
New Regulations: DOI Licensing and Compliance
The Alabama Department of Insurance has updated several regulations concerning licensing and compliance requirements for several categories of insurance professionals. Click on the links below…
New Law: The Notary Public Act
For those of you who are Alabama notaries, The Notary Public Act becomes effective September 1, 2023. Highlighted are the most relevant portions, but please…
Member Highlight – Agent: Stephanie Martin
Stephanie is the owner/operator of Elite Title Services, Inc. of Rainbow City, AL. She has been in the title insurance industry for 24 years. She…
Abstractor Tips for Lee, Limestone, Madison, Marshall, Morgan, Shelby, St. Clair, Talladega, and Tuscaloosa Counties
Following up on the Alabama Abstractor’s Helpful Hints, here are some county-specific tips that we hope you find useful: LEE COUNTY: Hours: 8:30 am to…
Alabama Abstractor’s Helpful Hints
This month’s edition features “Helpful Hints” from many of our experienced title searchers, abstractors, and examiners. The ability to search the Probate real estate records…
Un-Real Estate: Forged signatures, Fake ID and other Phony documents
WWL-TV’s series “Un-Real Estate” by investigative reporter David Hammer has uncovered forged signatures, fake identification, and other phony documents being used by scammers to lay…
Seller Impersonation Fraud
Fraudsters committing seller fraud are becoming more creative and sophisticated. In many areas, two or more agents a week encounter and fortunately stop fraudsters mid-transaction.…